NDP leadership hopefuls to lose positions, perks and extra pay

QUEBEC CITY — NDP leadership hopefuls will have to give up their House of Commons positions along with the perks and extra pay cheques that come with them, interim leader Nycole Turmel announced Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters outside the NDP’s three-day caucus meeting, Turmel said those who occupy such positions as House leader, caucus president, critics, committee chairmen or vice-chairmen will have to step aside if they throw their hats in the ring.

The one exception to that rule will be the position of deputy leader. Brad Lavigne, principal secretary to Turmel, said that position was excluded because it is largely honorific without a specific role or resources.

The deputy leaders positions are currently occupied by Thomas Mulcair and Libby Davies, both of whom are mulling over leadership bids.

Those thinking of running but reluctant to relinquish their titles or perks will be able to hold onto them for a while. Lavigne said the only deadline for prospective candidates to declare their intentions and give up their positions is the deadline set by the party to be a candidate — 60 days before the March 24 leadership vote.

However, no sooner had Turmel announced the rules than there appeared to be confusion among some MPs about which positions were covered and which ones were not.

For example, Françoise Boivin, MP for Gatineau who came out early in support of party president Brian Topp, said she believed that those who run would have to relinquish the title of deputy leader.

Others, like MP Nathan Cullen, also believed the deputy leaders would have to relinquish their titles, however he dismissed it as a red herring that is unlikely to have any influence on the race.

In some cases, prospective candidates risk giving up quite a bit. While every MP automatically gets $157,731 a year, those who occupy caucus positions can receive substantially more.

For example, Mulcair’s position of NDP House Leader adds $39,179 to his paycheque. In addition, he gets a spacious office in Centre Block overlooking the Ottawa River and the power to decide who gets the spotlight during question period. Peter Julian’s position as caucus chairman adds $11,165 to his salary as does Pat Martin’s job as chairman of the Government Operations committee.

Nor is there any guarantee that they will get those positions back. NDP officials say it will be up to the next NDP leader to decide who will occupy which role in caucus.

As MPs remained closeted behind closed doors plotting strategy, one of the key questions was who will take the plunge and run against the only candidate who has declared so far – party president Brian Topp.

Mulcair brushed by reporters on his way into the meeting not stopping to talk. Julian, Cullen and Peggy Nash said they are consulting supporters and will decide in coming weeks. Romeo Saganash, a Cree leader who was elected as an MP for the first time in May, said he will announce his intentions in a speech Friday in Val d’Or.

One person who won’t be stepping aside to run for the leadership is Jack Layton’s former chief of staff Anne McGrath. McGrath, who has remained to help Nycole Turmel, told the NDP caucus this morning that she is staying put and won’t seek the leadership.